Drapery pleating



D. R. FALKENBERG DRAPERY PLEATING 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 8, 1949 L/ mi w NH E mv ofi?.

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A* \Q O mo M DOUGLASS R. FALKENBERG n BY JW ATTO NETY Sept. 9, 1952 D. R. FALKNBERG DRAPERY PLEATING 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Jan. 8, 1949 INVENTOR. DOUGLASS R. FALKENBERG' Sept, 9, 1952 D. R. |=Al KEr-uaEl=zcsN DRAPERY PLEATING 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 FIG. i4

Filed Jan. 8, 1949 IN V EN TOR.

Y m E B om N o E T m T AQA F'IG. DOUGYQSS R F )mgw ' FIG. 12.

"Patented Sept. 9, 1952 N UNITED STATES .PATENT oFFicE 9 Claims.

The invention relates to` pleating, and particularly to means for effecting ornamental pleating of draperies.

The objects of the invention are:

To provide tape means which shall enable the ornamental draping of window coverings and the like to be effected conveniently; which will permit laundering of the drapery without removal of the pleating means; which permit the use of unusually heavy drapery material; `and which will dispense with the necessity of threading a curtain pole or other supporting means through the pleating means; Y

Also, to provide certain one-piece tuck fasteners which Will maintain the draping and will also serve as mounting means for the drapery upon a curtain rod; and to dispense with snap fasteners or other holding means liable to mutilate or weaken the tape and drapery material. These fasteners are pin formations which can readily be applied or removed and do not comprise any metal parts which are rigidly secured to the drapery material or the tape and would, in the event of laundering, require temporary removal which might `result in fraying or other injury to the material andtape in their removal and replacement.

'Ihe claims of this application are limited to the improvements in drapery pleating tapes.

The annexed drawings and the following description set forth in detail certain means illustrating the improvements in drapery pleating, such disclosed means constituting, however, only a few of the various forms in which the principle of the invention may be embodied.

In said annexed drawings:

Figure 1 is a broken front elevation of a drapery ornamentally pleated by the improvements of the invention;

Figure 2 is a'fragmentary rear elevation of the pleated drapery shown in Figure 1; also showing the improved pleating tape and the fasteners for maintaining the pleating and supporting the drapery; l

Figure 3 is a top plan of the drapery and the pleating means in extended condition; I

Figure 4 is a rear elevation of the pleating means shown in Figure 3, and the top portion of the drapery material; I

Figure 5 is a fragmentary elevation, upon an f enlarged scale, of the rear face of the prescored and premarked pleating tape, which is also preformed with certain holes for alignment pins and fasteners, the View being` a showing of the pleating tape before it is secured to the drapery material;

Figure 6 is a plan View, upon an enlarged scale, of one pleating panel of the pleating tape secured to the drapery material, the pleating tape being only partially folded in the process of forming the ornamentalpleats of the drapery material;

Figure 7 is a plan view of the elements shown in Figure 6 after the pleating tape has been closely folded along its score lines and the fastener applied;

Figure 8 is a rear elevation of the elements shown in Figure 7;

Figure 9 is a vertical section, taken in the plane indicated by the line 9-9, Figure 8; I

Figure 10 is a Vertical section, taken in the plane indicated by the line III-II), Figure 8;

Figure 11 is a rear elevation, taken in the plane indicated by the line I I -I I, Figure 9; i

Figures 12 and 13 are respectively a rear elevation and a vertical section of an end portion of the drapery and the pleating tape, particularly showing the application of an end support; and Y Figure 14 is a rear elevation of a modified form of prescored, prepunched, and premarked pleating tape secured to drapery material.

Referring to the annexed drawings in which the same parts are indicated by the same respective numbers in the several views, curtain material I, Figures 1 and 2, suitable for pleating to form an ornamental drapery has secured to and across its rear surface, and adjacent its top, a tape 4 of buckram, stiff crinoline, or other suitable stiff foldable material. The material l` has a comparatively deep top hem I1 and side hems I2. The tape 4 is stitched to the drapery material I and the top and side hems I1 and I2, in a manner hereinafter described. The tape 4 is folded into rearwardly-projected tucks II which results in the formation of forwardly-projected pleats 2 in the drapery material I. The tape 4 and hence the drapery material I` is supported by tuck-maintenance fasteners 2D which are slidably mounted on a rod 3 on which traverse sliding of the curtain is effected.

The invention is particularly directed `to the formation and functioning of the tape 4 whereby the ornamental pleating of the drapery material I is conveniently and satisfactorily effected. 1

The invention also includes the novel fastener structure 20 which securely maintains the folded tuck formation, which is easily applied and removed, and which also serves as a mounting for the drapery on the support, such as the `rod 3, cn which the drapery is transversely slid.

The novel formation oftape 4 is clearly shown in VFigures 4 and5 and comprises a rectangular body havinga plurality of creased or scored panel parts 6 alternated with plain panel parts l. The ends of the tape` 4 consist of two `plain panel parts 8, Figures 4 and 12, each of about onehalf `the width of the plainpanel parts l'.

. In the form of the invention shown, the panel parts 6 are premarked and prescored alternately on their' two faces so as to provide for three rearwardly-directed tucks II, Figures 6 and 7, and two forwardly-directed tucks I3, Figure 6, when the panel parts 6 are folded.

The stitching of the vtape 4 to the drapery material I and the rearwardly-directed tucks II and the forwardly-directed tucks I3 are provided for by certain prescored and premarked lines as follows:

On the front face of the tape #l three equaly spaced score lines I8 are formed on each panel 5, the two side score lines each being spaced from the adjacent side of the panel E, and on the rear face of each panel t two score lines III are preformed, each substantiallymidway between the adjacent edge of the panel and the adjacent score line I8. On each vertical edge of the panel 6- and also midway between each two adjacent score lines I8, guide lines I2 are marked on the rear face of the panel S for the stitching of the panel to the rear face of the drapery material I. Guide lines I2 are also marked for the end stitching of the end panels 8. The guide lines I2 between ad jacent score lines I3 are also scored.

VThe tape is stitched to the drapery material I along the marked vertical lines I2 of the panel parts 6 and 8, and the plain panels 'I and B are also 'stitched to the drapery material I somewhat below the top edges of the plain panels along guide lines I5, all the vertice. stitching being for the full depth of the tape t.

In order to hold the tape 4 in proper alignment while it is being stitched to the drapery material I, a series of crosswise aligned holes IS are formed in the panel parts 6 and also adjacently laterally thereof, as shown in Figure 5, and also a plurality of crosswise and vertically aligned holes Il in the panel parts I and' 8. The holes I5 are somewhat below the desired upper stitch lines I and the tape II is held in alignment on the drapery material I for effecting this upper stitching by means of pins passed temporarily through the holes I5. lThe vertical stitching of the panels and 3 is effected while Ythe panels are temporarily held in alignment on the drapery material VI by pins passed through the holes' Il.

Fromfthe foregoing description it is evident that a finger-pinching into folded formation of the stitched panel E between the score lines III to form the tucks I I-IB and then aligning the folds will throw the drapery between the stitching I?? of the panel into three forwardly-directed pleats 2, aligned top and bottom, ask clearly shown in Figures 7 and S. By reason of the score lines III, the end parts I of the rearwardly-directed side tucks I I straighten out in alignment with the adjacent panel parts l, as clearly shown in 1Figure 7, and thus spread the two side drapery pleats 2 and cause the central drapery pleat 2 to extend materially forwardly of the side pleats for its whole depth, to effect a disposition of the apices of the three pleats 2 substantially in the eircumn ference of a circle, as also clearly seen in Figure 7.

Furthermore, a throwing forward of the centralV drapery pleat 2 may be effected by so subdividing the scored panel 6 by lines I2 as to create a central rearwardly-projected tuck I I somewhat wider than the two side tucks I I. i

After the tape iV is pinched into the multipleply formation and the drapery material I pleated, as shown in Figure 7, the pleating is maintained by a Ynovel form of one-piece fastener and supporting member 2li shown in Figures 7,V 8, 9, and 10. The fastener is a double-engaging pin formation made of spring wire and has an elongated body portion 25 which at one end is bent downwardly and back upon itself and closelyV aligned with the body 2d for a substantial part of the length of the latter, as indicated by 26, the upper jointl atthe connectingr ends of the parts 25 and 26 being an upwardly and outwardlydirected nose formation 21. The downwardly-projected part 25 merges into an upwardly-directed spaced part 28 at a bend 281, the part 28 forming one terminal of the entire fastener 20 and being of bowed formation 282 adjacent its end, vwhich bowed formation is biased toward the adjacent members 25 and 26 so as to tightly confine the upper parts of the folded tucks of the tape II between the members 282 and 25, as shown in Figure 8.

The opposite end of the body 25 of the fastener 29 is bent at 251 into a two-strand hook formation 29 spaced from the body 25 so as to snugly accommodate Vthe folded tucks ofthe tape as shown in Figure 8, this two-strand hook having a terminal outwardly and upwardly directed nose 30 and merging at its opposite end into a side Ci-I of a three-sided rodmount 32.

The fastener 25 is applied to the tucked formation of the tape I through two series of verticallyspaced and horizontally-aligned preformed holes 2l and 22 formed in the tape panel portions as indicated in Figure 5. The-se two series of holes 2l and 22 each consist of a plurality of pairs of holes of which. each hole iii-each series is vertically aligned with a hole of the other series, the holes of each pair of. any one series being upon opposite sides Vof and somewhat-spaced from the apex or.' score line I8 of a tuck II. The holes of the upper series 2l, are of gradually decreasing length from one end of the series to the other. running from an elongated oblong hole at one end to a small circular hole at the opposite end, the tops of the holes 2l being i'n horizontal alignment. The holes 22 of the lower series are inedium length oblong holes of uniform size. The bends 251 and 281 of the fastener 20 are spaced apart substantially the distance between the tcp of a holeZ-I and a vertically-aligned hole 22.

Thefastener 2B isapplied by passing the ter minal part 28 thereof progressively through the Y longest hole 2| and into and through the aligned holes 2 I, when theV tucks are held in closely fingern folded condition, the fastener 2! being moved upwardly until the nose Vpart 3? is aligned with the hole 22 adjacently below the largest hole 2I which is about the time the biased bowed part 282 commences toexert'pressure on the upper parts of the folded tucks I I. into and through the holes 22 and upon continued upward movement of the fastener 2li the base or bend 251 of thehook 23 engages the tucked material at the top of the holes 22. [Simultanen ously the bend 231 between the fastener parts 2t and 23 engages' the material of the tucks at the top of the'holes 2l, all as shown `in the position of the fastener 2d in Figure 8. In this position ofthe fastener 2G the. double-strand hook 2Ssecurely holds the lower portions of the tuck formations inclosely folded condition and the biased portion 282 of the fastener tightly holds the upper parts of the tuclr formations which are seated in the joint between the fastener parts 2S and 2li. It is clear from Figures 9 and 10 that the part 3?. of thevfastener which is biased toward thev fastener parts 25 and 3l can snugly engage the rod E and yetv can be slid therealong manually or secured to suitable traversing means to provide for the traversing of the drapery.

Then the nose Si! is passedA scored lines 181 and the stitching lines 121.

The fact that the two series of holes 21 and 22 are preformed in the tape 4 guarantees that the pleating will always be uniform irrespective of how many times the fastener 21) may be removed and replaced.

If it is desired to assure an appearance of fullness to the bottom of the draped material 1, each set of pleats 2 can be pinched together at the bottom and stitched, as is shown by "9 for the left-hand pair of pleat sets in Figure 1.

The material of the tape 4 is impregnated lwith any suitable material insuring a hard-wearing surface for the walls of the holes 21 and 22 so that the material constituting these walls is not frayed by repeated insertionand removalof the fasteners 20.

The rod-engaging fastener 36 at the two ends of the tape 4, one of which is shown in Figures 12 and 13, consists of a part of the fastener 20, vis., the rod mount 31 and 32 at one end and the elongated body part 25, the latter in the fastener formation 3B comprising the other end of the fastener. The fasteners 35 are passed through the tape-aligning holes 1'1 between the rear faces of the four-ply hemmed drapery edges and the front or inside face of the ends of the tape 4, as clearly seen in Figure 13.

The plain drapery material I, in the open con dition shown in Figure 4, may be laundered without removing the tape 4 therefrom.

It is often desired in ornamental draping that there be the least abrupt transition from the bottom of the pleats 2 into the fullness of the underlying material, and a scoring formation for this purpose is shown in Figure 14. This modileast four stitch lines and score lines for at least cation consists in slightly tapering the two middle stitching lines 121 toward each other from top to bottom. The elements marked 41, 61, '11, 141, 151, |61," and 1151" shown in Figure 14 correspond to the several elements marked 4, Us, (1,1 (14!! MI5!!! I6, HI8!) Figure 5.

Also, there is shown a further modification in Figure 14 consisting in a second and additional series of holes 211 and a second and additional series of holes 221, formed in the bottom portion of the tape 41. When tucks are formed by fingerfolding the tape 41, the holes 211 and 221 are located further down on the tucks than the respective holes 2| and 22.

The holes 211 and 221 are formed substantially centrally of the spaces between the adjacent The holes 211 and 221 accommodate a second fastener 21) and provide for an additional tightening of the folds of the tucks adjacent the bottom of the tucks and, in addition to providing for a securely tight maintenance of the tucks from top to bottom, also assist in insuring a less abrupt transition in the drapery material from the bottom of the pleats into the fullness of the underlying material. The holes 211 and 221 can be utilized alone for a single fastener 20, if desired, instead of using the upper holes 21 and 22 shown in Fig-V What I claim is:

1. A tape for attachment to drapery fabric to facilitate pleating of the latter comprising a panel of stiff foldable fabric material having indicia on one face for a series of spaced vertical stitch lines for attachment of the tape to the drapery fabric, said indicia including indicia for the attachment of the tape at its side edges, the tape being also scored on the opposite face to provide fold lines, the score lines alternating with i i, 6 thestitch indicia and being substantially parallel therewith, the stitch indicia intermediate the opposite face score lines being also score lines, the tape upon the two opposite sides of each opposite 'facet' score line being formed with a pair of laligned openings for the passage and seating of, ai fastener for holding hunched. tape material formed" by thefolding thereof along the opposite face score lines. A

l2. `A tape vfor attachment tddrapery vfabric to facilitatepleating` of the latter, characterized as in claim 1, in which the openings formed in the panel progressively vary in size from one end of the series of openings to the opposite end thereof.

3l A tape for attachment to drapery fabric to facilitate pleating of the latter, characterized as in claim l, in which the tape is formed with two series of openings, and in which the several open ings of one series are substantially identical in form and size, and in which the openings of the other series vary in size from one end of the series of openings to the opposite end thereof.

4. A tape for attachment to drapery fabric to facilitate pleating of the latter, characterized as in claim 1, in which the tape is formed with four series of openings, the respective openings of each series being aligned with an opening of another series, and in which the openings of two series are spaced a greater distance from the respective score lines therebetween than the openings of the other two series.

5. A tape for attachment to drapery fabric to facilitate pleating of the latter, characterized as in claim 1, in which indicia are provided for at three folds intermediate the respective adjacent two of the stitch line indicia, and in which the indicia for the adjacent intermediate stitch lines taper downwardly toward each other from end toend.

6. A tape for attachment to drapery fabric to facilitate pleating of the latter, characterized as in claim 1, in which indicia are provided for a plurality of stitch lines and score lines are prof vided intermediate the respective adjacent two of the stitch line indicia, and in which the tape is additionally scored on the stitch line face intermediate the respective outside stitch line indicia and the adjacent score lines, whereby, by

, a folding of the tape, tape tucks are formed projected in both directions from the plane of the fabric and an arcuate pleated fabric formation is made which is secured at its side edges to the fabric and between its edges is secured to the adjacent ends of the folded tucks.

7. A tape for attachment to drapery fabric to facilitate pleating of the latter, characterized as in claim l, in which there are indicia for a plurality of series of stitch lines and a plurality of complementary'series of score lines, each two` adjacent series of stitch indicia and score lines being spaced apart by a plain panel portion, the panel having stitch line indicia adjacent the up per edge of each plain panel portion, this plain panel stitch line connecting the exterior stitch indicia of the two adjacent scored panel portions, the several pairs of tape openings of the series being in alignment for the passage and seating of respective individual fasteners.

8. A tape for attachment to drapery fabric to facilitate pleating of the latter, characterized as in claim 1, in which there are indicia for a plurality of series of stitch lines and a plurality of complementary series of score'lines, each two adjacent series of stitch indicia and score lines being spaced apart by a plain panel portion, Vin which the panel has stitch line indicia adjacent the upper edge of each plain panel portion connecting 'the exterior stitch indicia of the two adjacent scored panel portions, and in which the panel has a pluralityof aligned holes extended transversely'of each scored panel portion adjacently below the upper edge thereof, and in which each plain panel portion has a plurality of series of vertically aligned holes. Y

9. A tape for attachment to drapery fabric to facilitate pleating of the latter, characterized as in claim 1, in which the spaced stitch line indicia areV at least four in number, and in which the spacing of the vstitch line indicia provide a panel portion, foldable upon the central score line, Wider than the remaining foldable panel portions,

whereby a forward projection of the central fabric pleat is effected.

DOUGLASS R. FALKENBERG.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent: Y

UNITED STATES TENTS Number Name Date 384,004 vTilton et al June 5, 1888 1,143,100 Brewington June 15, 1915 1,860,110 Martens May 24, 1932 2,124,650 Chessler July 26, 1938 2,159,733 French May 23, 1939 2,302,630 Hess lr Nov. 17, 1942 

